Campsite reservations are accepted at Clearwater Lake, Falls Creek and Mahood Lake group campgrounds and first come, first served sites are also available. All campsite and group site reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservation service. For more information on reservations, see the frontcountry camping page and the group camping page.

When reservations are not available, all sites are available on a first come, first served basis. For information on when campsites are open and when reservations are required, see the dates of operation section, above.  

Make a reservation

There are a few rustic public cabins in the park. These facilities are intended for emergency use and are not regularly maintained.

There are two reservable group campsites 20 metres from the beach at Mahood Lake. The sites include picnic tables, outhouses, and water taps.

Backountry camping, accessible by boat only, is allowed in each of the below campgrounds. These sites each have a food cache, a pit toilet, and a fire rings. Some have picnic tables. 

• Azure Lake: Access to these sites by boat only. Four camping areas with a total of 21 tent sites.
• Clearwater Lake: Access to these sites by boat only. 12 camping areas with a total of 33 tent sites.
• Mahood Lake: There are three user-maintained lakeshore sites that are accessible only by boat. No fees are collected at these sites.
• Murtle Lake: Access to these sites by canoe only. There are 69 sites. No combustible motors on this lake.

Camping fee: $5 per person per night (age 6+)

The BC Parks backcountry permit registration service allows you to purchase a backcountry camping permit before leaving home. Although this does not reserve a campsite, it provides the convenience of prepaying for your trip and not having to carry cash. We encourage all visitors to register online so we can reduce the need to collect fees in the field.

Fees can also be deposited at self-registration fee stations.

For your safety, even if you have pre-paid your camping fees, please fill out a registration form with your name and the colour of your canoe or kayak upon arriving at the park. Please add a copy of your camping permit to the envelope. 

You also need to carry a copy of the permit on your body while you are in the park. 

So, if you have pre-paid online, print two copies of your permit and bring them with you.

This park offers vehicle-accessible camping on a first come, first served basis and campsite reservations are also accepted. 
 

Clearwater Lake, Falls Creek, and Mahood Lake Campgrounds

• Camping fee: $23 per party per night
• BC senior’s rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $11.50 per senior party per night. Read the camping fees page for information on senior camping discounts

Pyramid Campground

• Camping fee: $20 per party per night
• BC senior’s rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $10 per senior party per night. Read the camping fees page for information on senior camping discounts

Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:

• Clearwater Corridor
• Clearwater Lake
• Falls Creek
• Mahood Lake
• Pyramid
• Spahats Creek
• Visitor Centre

Cold-water taps are located in certain areas of the park.

• Clearwater/Azure Marine: Boil or otherwise purify lake or creek water. No drinking water provided.
• Corridor area: Water is not provided in the day-use areas.
• Mahood Lake: Water is not provided in the day-use area.
• Spahats Creek: Cold-water taps are located throughout the park.

Mahood Lake has an excellent adventure playground for small children, a large grassy playing field for ball games, and a horseshoe pit adjacent to the campground.

There are opportunities for boat launching.

• Clearwater/Azure Marine: There is a boat launch located at the end of Wells Gray Park Road, near the southern end of Clearwater Lake. It is paved and gravel maintained.
• Corridor area: The boat launch is located at the end of Wells Gray Park Road, near the southern end of Clearwater Lake.
• Mahood Lake: There is a paved boat launch. If parking overnight, advise the park operator of your return time.

A sani-station is available during the collecting season. It is in the corridor area and located across the north end of Falls Creek Campground. 

Sani-station use fee: $5 per discharge

While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using camp stoves instead. 

• Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. 
• Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. 
• Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. 
• To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act ). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.

This park offers day-use picnic areas.

• Clearwater/Azure Marine: Campsites closest to the boat launch are popular with day-use visitors for picnic sites.
• Corridor area: There are 10 day-use areas, with a number of picnic tables at each. Campfires are not permitted in the picnic area.
• Mahood Lake: There is parking for approximately 40 vehicles in the day-use area. Campfires are not permitted and water is not provided.
• Spahats Creek: There is parking for approximately 40 vehicles in the day-use area at the Clearwater Valley viewpoint.

There are flush toilets located at Spahats day-use area. The rest of the park has pit toilets only.

• Clearwater/Azure Marine: Lakeshore trailheads lead to stunning views of lesser known waterfalls and viewpoints overlooking the lake.
• Corridor Area: There are a variety of short hikes available.
• Mahood Lake: Easy, short trails to Mahood, Canim, Deception Falls, and Whale Lake.
• Spahats Creek: An easy walk to a viewing platform provides spectacular views of Spahats Falls and the canyon where Spahats Creek has cut through layers of volcanic rock. The shaded viewing platform also provides a view of Clearwater River corridor.
• Wells Gray Trail Report [PDF]

Trail updates will be posted in the advisories section above. For your own safety and for the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

There are swimming opportunities in the park but there are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

• Clearwater/Azure Marine: Most lakes, rivers, and streams are glacier fed and the water is icy cold all year.
• Corridor area: Most lakes, rivers, and streams are glacier fed and the water is icy cold all year.
• Mahood Lake: Has 220 metres of beach and shelving foreshore.

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking.

• Murtle Lake: Only canoeists and kayakers are allowed on this lake.
• Clearwater/Azure Marine and corridor area: A number of companies provide guided trips. Contact the Wells Gray Park Information Centre for more information. Canoeists heading for Azure must use a 0.5km portage.
• Mahood Lake: Canoeing and kayaking opportunities are available.

Kayaking opportunities are available at Murtle Lake and Mahood Lake.

Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

• Clearwater/Azure Marine: Rainbow trout has been found at either end of both lakes as well as Barella Creek and Angus Horne Creek.
• Corridor area: Refer to the current BC Environment Fishing Regulations Synopsis.
• Mahood Lake: Contains rainbow, lake trout, kokanee, whitefish, and burbot.

Wells Gray Park, sponsored by the BC Conservation Corps, the Federation of BC Naturalists, park operators, and BC Parks, may offer interpretive programs in the summer.

From early June to late August, you’ll find the BC Parks Foundation’s Discover Parks Ambassadors hosting programs, leading nature walks, hosting information booths and running the popular Jerry’s Ranger’s program for kids and families. To learn more about the Discover Parks Ambassador program and check their schedule visit the BC Parks Foundation’s website.  

With a large variety of habitats and ecosystems, Wells Gray Park provides exceptional wildlife viewing and bird watching opportunities. You may see black bears in the spring, Chinook salmon during the autumn, and wolves and moose during the winter months.

Pets must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. 

In the corridor area, there are specific trails open to mountain bikers. Ask for details at the Wells Gray information centre.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on any trails within Wells Gray Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.

Horse use is permitted in many areas of the park. All trails authorized for horse use will be marked by an appropriate sign at the trail heads. 

In areas of the park used by commercial park use permit holders offering horseback riding opportunities, horseback riding is allowed for the public without additional authorization. These trails include the Flat Iron, Hemp Creek Canyon Lands, Hoodoo Rim Trail, Green Mountain, White Horse Bluffs, Tote Road, Still Water, Majerus, Blackwater, and Bee Farm.

The Green Mountain trail system in the corridor area is also open for horse use.

Some other areas in the park are open for horse use through a Letter of Authorization process. These areas include, but are not limited to, Battle Mountain, Table Mountain, and Pyramid Trail to upper Murtle River.

Those wishing to access these areas by horse must contact the Area Supervisor responsible for Wells Gray at the Ministry of Environment office in Kamloops at 250-371-6200. 

A Letter of Authorization, if issued, will be issued from the regional office and will contain any additional restrictions or requirements necessary in order to access those areas of the park. There is no fee for a Letter of Authorization.

Hunting is permitted within Wells Gray Park. Please refer to current British Columbia Hunting Regulations for seasons and bag limits.

There are backcountry skiing and snowshoeing opportunities in various areas of the park. There are groomed cross-country ski trails in the Majerus Farm area.

Operation of snowmobiles is not permitted in the park unless granted under special exception by a park official.